Warp stop motion



March 6, 1934. J. J. KAUFMANN WARP STOP MOTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJan. 20, 1932 March 6, 1934. J. J. KAUFMANN WARP STOP MOTION FiledJan.20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 APatented Mar. 6, 1934 ITE? WAR? STOP MOTIONJohn Jacob Kaufmann, Elkins Park, Pa., assigner to Steel HeddleManufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication January 20,

12 Claims.

My invention relates to warp stop motions for looms, and relates moreparticularly to improved means, in a loom harness frame, forestablishing an electrical circuitwhenever a warp end breaks or becomesunduly slack, whereby the loom may be automatically stopped by means ofelectrical devices included in or controlled by said circuit.

The principal object of my invention is to `provide improved "means, ina loom harness frame, for closing an electrical circuit whenever a warpend breaks or becomes unduly slack.

With the foregoing object in view, my invention contemplates theVutilization of a novel form of Yheddle preferably made of thin, flatmetal or l wire, which may be expeditiously and inexpensively made bymeans of the machinery at present in use for making the well known steelheddles, which are now extensively used in loom harness.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a device of thecharacter aforesaid, in which wear on the contacting elements will bereduced to a minimum.

My invention further contemplates the provision, in such a device, ofcontact making devices which may be located entirely above the shed, tothe end that the same will be readily accessible and will not becomefouledA by the lint which is disengaged from the warp ends during themanipulation thereof to form the successive sheds.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be morereadily understood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a loom harness frame, having mountedtherein devices embodying the main features of my present invention;

Fig. 2 is an -enlarged' section thereof, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showinga portion of a heddle, and illustrating the relative locations, when theharness frame is in the elevatedposition, of the 45 upper supporting rodand an auxiliary contact bar by means of which the electrical circuit isestablished when a warp end is broken or slack.

Fig. 4 is a similar View, illustrating the relative locations of saidmembers when the harness frame is in the lowered position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view, illustrating the relative locations of saidmembers when the harness frame is in the lowered position, and the warpend controlled by the heddle there shown 1932, Serial No. 587,655

is broken or slack, permitting the heddle to drop to the contact makingposition; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section, taken on the line 6 -6 of Fig. 1,illustrating the lower portion of one of the heddles.

t will, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein contained are illustrative merely, and that various changes andmodications may be made in the structure disclosed without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

The heddle frame may be of any preferred construction. As shown in thedrawings, it may comprise top and bottom rails 10 and 11, respectively,preferably made of wood, and connected at their ends by struts 12 and13, preferably made of metal. Heddle supporting rods 14 and 15 aremounted in the end struts in the customary manner.

An auxiliary contact bar is also mounted in the end struts 12 and 13.The contact bar comprises a central metallic strip 17, partiallysurrounded by insulation 18, which in turn is partially surrounded by ametal sheathing 19, U- shaped in cross-section.

The ends of the contact bar extend through elongated slots 2() in theend struts 12 and 13, so that said contact bar may be permitted a risingand falling movement with respect to the heddle supporting rods, in themanner and for the purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The contact bar is preferably positioned in the frame above the uppersupporting rod 14, but, of course, it will be understood that the samemay be located in any other suitable portion of the harness frame, ifdesired.

The external metallic sheathing 19 of the contact bar is in electricalconnection with the metal struts 12 and 13 of the frame, where saidcontact bar extends through the slots in said struts, but in order toinsure a positive electrical connection, a wire 21 may be employed,being secured at one end to the metal sheathing 19 by a screw 22, and atthe other end to the side strut 13 of the frame, by a screw 23. A100 Thescrew 23 may also, if desired, be used as a means of connecting a wire24, forming part of the electrical circuit to be controlled.

One end of the central metallic strip 17 may extend beyond the end ofthe sheathing 19, and .105 current may be supplied thereto by means of awire 25, one end of which is secured by a screw 26 to the protruding endof the strip 17, and the other end of which is secured by a screw 27 toan insulating block 28. The screw 27 may also be 110 used for theconnection of a wire 29, which forms part of the electrical circuit tobe controlled.

Each or" the heddles 36 is preferably made of a thin, fiat strip oimetal or wire, having a central warp eye 31 or the type usually providedtherein, and elongated slots 32 and 33, near the ends thereof, formounting the same on the supporting rods 14 and 15, respectively. Theslots 32 and S3 are of a length greater than the width of the supportingrods 14 and 15, so that the heddles will have a range of verticalmovement with respect to said supporting rods, as the harness frame israised and lowered, this movement being imparted to the heddles by thetension of the warp ends as the shed is formed.

Each of the heddles 30 is also provided, at its upper end, adjacent theslot 32, with an auxiliary slot 34, through which the contact barextends. The slot 34 is likewise oi a greater length than the overallwidth or" the contact bar, but the excess or" length thereof is somwhatless than the excess of the length of the slots 32 and 33, through whichthe supporting rods 14 and 15 extend.

The slot 34 is so positioned with respect to the slot 32 that when theharness frame is in the raised position, and the heddles are restingwith the upper ends of theV slots 32 on the top edges or" the supportingrod 14, the contact bar will be positioned in the slot 34 or" eachheddle with the top end of the slot 34 free of engagement with thecentral metallic strip 17 of the contact bar. The top marginal edge ofthe slot 34 is preferably inclined, as at 35, for a purpose to bepresently explained.

The operation of the device may now be explained. When the harness frameis in the elevated position,the heddles fall gravity, and also by thereason of the tension imparted thereto by the warp ends, to the positionshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, being supported by the upper ends ofthe slots 32 resting upon the top edge of the supporting rod 14. Thecontact bar 16 also falls by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 3 ofthe drawings, being so located by reason of its resting at the bottom ofthe slots 20 in the end struts 12 and 13 of the frame.

When, however, the harness frame is lowered, the tension imparted by thewarp threads pushes the heddles upwardly with respect to the supportingrods, whereupon the lower edge of the Contact bar will be engaged by thelower ends of the slots 34 of the heddles, and the Contact bar willthereby be raised with respect to the supporting rod 14, as illustratedin Fig. 4 or" the drawings, this raising being permitted by reason ofthe provision of the slots 20 in the end struts 12 and 13 of the frame.

Should, however, one of the warp ends break or become unduly slack, theheddle through which said warp end passes will be permitted to drop,whereupon the inclined upper edge 35 of the end of the slot 34 willengage the central metallic strip 17 of the contact bar, sliding overthe same until the side margin of the slot 34 engages the metallicsheathing 19 of the contact bar.

At this stage of the operation, current being supplied to the centralstrip 1? oi contact bar through the wires 29 and 25, the same will passthrough the heddle which has iallen, from the metallic strip 17 to theouter metallic sheathing 19, and thence by wires 21 and 24. In thismanner, the circuit will be established for the actuation of any of thewell known electrical devices for stopping the loom, not shown.

Inasmuch as the screw 23 is mounted directly in the metallic end strut13 of the frame, it will be apparent that if the circuit is notestablished through the metal sheathing i9, as the current passes to adropped heddle from the central strip 17, there will be an alternativeelectrical path provided through the heddles, thence through one or theother of the heddle supporting rods 14 and 15, to the side strut 13 inwhich the screw 23 is mounted.

It will, of course, be understood that the individual harness framesmay, if desired, be provided with means (not shown) for supplyingcurrent to the contact bar at such times only as the harness frames arein the lowered positions. It is not deemed necessary to show suchdevices, as the same are well known, and may assume a variety of forms.

It will be noted that the contact making portion of each heddle is keptout of contact with the central strip 17 of the contact bar, except whenan individual heddle drops by reason of a broken or slack warp end, andconsequently wear of the contact bar and the coacting portions of theheddles is reduced to a minimum. The strain imparted to the heddles whenthe shed is formed is taken up entirely by the supporting rods 14 and15.

Furthermore, the contact making parts are arranged above the shed, andare at all times freely accessible. These parts will thus be maintainedsubstantially free of the lint which falls from the warp ends when thesame are manipulated in the forming of the successive sheds.

While the heddles may of course be made in any desired manner,preferably they may be inexpensively made by means of the machines now'l used for the making of heddles from a thin, flat strip of metal orwire.

I claim:

1. In a loom harness, a harness frame; warp shedding heddles; means forsupporting said heddles in the frame; a Contact bar mounted in the frameso as to have a range of vertical movement with respect thereto andadapted to be moved to its operative position when the frame is lowered;each of said heddles having a slot through which the contact barextends, said slot being independent of the means for supporting theheddle in the frame, the upper end of said slot being normally free ofengagement with the contact bar but adapted to engage the same toestablish an electrical circuit when the warp end controlled by theheddle is broken or unduly slack.

2. In a loom harness, a harness frame; warp shedding heddles; means forsupporting said heddles in the frame; a contact bar mounted in the frameso as to have a range or" vertical movement with respect thereto andadapted to be moved to its operative position when the frame is lowered;each of said heddles having a slot at the upper end thereof throughwhich the contact bar extends, said slot being independent of the meansfor supporting the heddle in the frame, the upper end of said slot beingnormally free of engagement with the contact bar but adapted to engagethe saine to establish an elecu trical circuit when the warp endcontrolled by the heddle is broken or unduly slack.

3. In a loom harness, a harness frame; warp f shedding heddles; meanssupporting said heddles in the frame; a contact bar comprising a centralmetallic strip and external metallic sheathing, said strip and sheathingbeing insulated frorn each other throughout their length, 's'

.in the frame, the upper` end of said slot being free oi engagementwith' the contact Vbar but adapted to engage the central metallicportion thereof to establish an electrical circuit when the warp endcontrolled by the heddle is broken or unduly slack.

4. In a loom harness, a harness frame; warp shedding heddles; means forsupporting said heddles in the frame; a contact bar comprising a centralmetallic strip and external metallic sheathing, said strip and sheathingbeing insulated from each other throughout their length, the upper edgeoi the central metallic strip protruding above the edge of the metallicsheathing, said Contact bar being mounted in the frame so as to have arange of vertical movement with respect thereto and being adapted to bemoved to its operative position when the frame is lowered; each of saidheddles having a slot at the upper end thereof through which the contactbar extends, said slot being independent of the means for supporting theheddle in the frame, the upper end of said slot being inclined andnormally free of engagement with the contact bar but adapted to engagethe central metallic portion thereof to establish an electrical circuitwhen the warp end controlled by the heddle is broken or unduly slack.

5. In a loom harness, a harness frame; warp shedding heddles mountedtherein; means I'or support-ing said heddles whereby the same have arange of vertical movement with respect to the frame; a contact barmounted in the frame so as to have a range o1" vertical movement withrespect thereto and being adapted to be moved by the heddles to itsoperative position when the frame is lowered; each of said heddleshaving a slot through which the contact bar extends, said slot beinUindependent of the for supporting the heddle in the frame, the upper endof said slot being normally free of engagement with the contact bar butadapted to engage the same to establish electrical circuit when the warpend controlled by the heddle is broken or unduly slack.

6. In a. loom harness, a arness frame; warp shedding heddles mountedtherein; means for supporting said heddles whereby the same have a rangeof vertical movement with respect to the frame; a contact bar mounted inthe frame so as to have a range or" vertical movement with respectthereto and being adapted to be moved by the heddles to its operativeposition when the frame is lowered; each of said heddles having a slotat the upper end the conthereoi through w n tact bar ext-ends, said slotbeing independent of the means ior supporting the heddle in the frame,the upper end of said slot being normally free of engagement with thecontact bar but adapted to engage the same to establish an electricalcircuit when the warp end controlled by the heddle is broken or undulyslack.

7. In a loom harness, a harness frame; upper and lower heddle supportingrods mounted therein; heddles mounted on said rods; a contact barmounted in the frame so as to have a range of vertical movement withrespect to the `heddle supporting rods and being adapted to be vmoved bythe heddles to its operative position when the :frame is lowered; eachof said heddles having a central warp eye and a slot adjacent each. endthereof for mounting the same on the supporting rods, said slots beingelongated whereby the heddle has a range oi vertical'movement withrespect to the supporting rods, each of said heddles also having anadditional slot through which the contact bar extends, the upper `endofsaid slot being normally free of engagement with the Contact bar butadapted to engage `the sameto establish an electrical circuit when thewarp end controlled by the heddle is broken or unduly slack.

8. In a loom harness, a harness frame; upper and lower heddle supportingrods mounted therein; heddles mounted on said rods; a Contact bar Y,

mounted in the frame so as to have a range of vertical movement withrespect to the heddle supporting rods and being adapted to be moved bythe heddle to its operative position when the frame is lowered; theheddles being made of thin flat metal or wire, each of said heddleshaving a central warp eye and a slot adjacent each end thereoi formounting the same on the supporting rods, said slots being elongatedwhereby the heddle has a. range or" vertical movement with respect tothe supporting rods, each or" said heddles also having an additionalslot through which the Contact bar extends, the upper end of said slotbeing normally free of engagement with the contact bar but adapted toengage the same to establish an eleca trical circuit when the warp endcontrolled by the heddle is broken or unduly slack.

9. In a loom harness, a harness frame; upper and lower heddle supportingrods mounted therein; heddles mounted on said rods; a contact barmounted in the frame so as to have a range of vertical movement withrespect to the heddle supporting rods and being adapted to be moved bythe heddles to its operative position when the frame is lowered; theheddles being made of thin jilat metal or wire, each of said heddleshaving a central warp eye and a slot adjacent each end thereof formounting the same on the supporting rods, said slots being elongatedwhereby the heddle has a range of vertical movement with 10. In a loomharness, a harness frame; upper and lower heddle supporting rods mountedtherein; heddles mounted on said rods; a Contact bar comprising acentral metallic strip and external metallic sheathing, said strip andsheathing being insulated from each other throughout their length, theupper edge of the central strip protruding above the upper edge of themetallic sheathing, said contact bar being mounted in the frame so as tohave a range of vertical movenient with respect to the heddle supportingrods and being adapted to be moved by the heddles to its operativeposition when the frame is lowered; the heddles being made or thin flatmetal or wire,

each of said heddles having a central warp eye and a slot adjacent eachend thereof for mounting the same on the supporting rods, said slotsbeing elongated whereby the heddle has a range of vertical movement withrespect to the supporting rods, each of said heddles also having anadditional slot through Which the Contact bar extends, the upper end ofsaid slot being normally free of engagement with the contact bar butadapted to engage the central metallic portion thereof to establish anelectrical circuit when the Warp end is broken or unduly Slack.

11. In a loom harness, a harness frame; Warp shedding heddles; means forsupporting said heddles in the frame; a contact bar mounted in the upperportion of the frame so as to have a range of vertical movement Withrespect thereto and adapted to be moved to its operative position whenthe frame is lowered; each of said heddles having a portion normallyfree of engagement with the contact bar but adapted to contact therewithto establish an electrical circuit when the warp end controlled by theheddle is broken or unduly slack.

12. In a loom harness, a harness frame; upper and lower heddlesupporting rods xedly mounted therein; warp shedding heddles mounted onsaid rods; a contact bar mounted in the frame so as to have a range ofvertical movement With respect thereto and adapted to be moved to itsoperative position when the frame is lowered; each of said heddleshaving a portion normally free of engagement with the contact bar butadapted to Contact therewith to establish an electrical circuit when thewarp end controlled by the heddle is broken or unduly slack.

JOHN JACOB KAUFMANN.

